Should I move to the UK
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Join Date: Jan 2001
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Wizofoz
What is important is what your take home pay buys you ! In OZ it goes much further as Housing,Petrol ,Food etc etc is far cheaper than in UK.
Yes there are some minuses like Ozzies to contend with
What is important is what your take home pay buys you ! In OZ it goes much further as Housing,Petrol ,Food etc etc is far cheaper than in UK.
Yes there are some minuses like Ozzies to contend with
Hi guys,
unwiseowl,
Crime? About the same. I've experienced four comprehensive burgularys at home, muggings, beatings, murders etc. are all there. Smaller numbers because of a smaller population but per capita about the same. Schools? My kids are happily in a local Catholic State school, whilst we were going to have them privatley educated at home because the state system is c****.
Roads? A little wider! But nothing like the motorway system, and rural roads are death traps. Public transport? Nothing approaching the tube, a creaking bus service in sydney and and old inefficient suburban train system. Health service? Medicare, the government health insurance, is underfunded. Waiting times for non-life threatening surgery (Such as hip-replacement for an old guy in constant pain) was approaching two years. Pensions? There is compulsory personal superanuation, as the state pension is not available to virtualy anyone with any assets. Those funds are under the same pressure as British ones, and the Aus population is aging just as quickley.
Weather? Great most of the time, though try flying an un-airconditioned light twin in 45 degree heat- not fun.
Airline jobs? Qantas, 15 years to command. VB? gotta know some one, and the pay stinks.
Tony? Well, he'll be gone soon, won't he? And don't think we haven't had our share of idiots behind the wheel. Do some research on Gough Whitlam
thegypsy,
Yes and no. Firstly, Sydney is hellishly expensive. If you re envisaging a place overlooking the harbour, you are talking millions of dollars for starters. Median price for greater Sydney is around 500 000 (About 200 000 pounds), which is similar to Britain. Other places are better, but I don't know what you'd do for work.
My higher British salary is paying the mortgage on my more expensive British house. Come retirement, the value of my four-bed semi in Northern England would fund my entire retirement at home! And my job security here is MUCH higher. When there are only two airlines, if the one you work for goes broke, your choices get very limited!!
unwiseowl,
Crime? About the same. I've experienced four comprehensive burgularys at home, muggings, beatings, murders etc. are all there. Smaller numbers because of a smaller population but per capita about the same. Schools? My kids are happily in a local Catholic State school, whilst we were going to have them privatley educated at home because the state system is c****.
Roads? A little wider! But nothing like the motorway system, and rural roads are death traps. Public transport? Nothing approaching the tube, a creaking bus service in sydney and and old inefficient suburban train system. Health service? Medicare, the government health insurance, is underfunded. Waiting times for non-life threatening surgery (Such as hip-replacement for an old guy in constant pain) was approaching two years. Pensions? There is compulsory personal superanuation, as the state pension is not available to virtualy anyone with any assets. Those funds are under the same pressure as British ones, and the Aus population is aging just as quickley.
Weather? Great most of the time, though try flying an un-airconditioned light twin in 45 degree heat- not fun.
Airline jobs? Qantas, 15 years to command. VB? gotta know some one, and the pay stinks.
Tony? Well, he'll be gone soon, won't he? And don't think we haven't had our share of idiots behind the wheel. Do some research on Gough Whitlam
thegypsy,
Yes and no. Firstly, Sydney is hellishly expensive. If you re envisaging a place overlooking the harbour, you are talking millions of dollars for starters. Median price for greater Sydney is around 500 000 (About 200 000 pounds), which is similar to Britain. Other places are better, but I don't know what you'd do for work.
My higher British salary is paying the mortgage on my more expensive British house. Come retirement, the value of my four-bed semi in Northern England would fund my entire retirement at home! And my job security here is MUCH higher. When there are only two airlines, if the one you work for goes broke, your choices get very limited!!
Join Date: Jun 2001
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Just another input into this discussion. I am a Brit. I grew up in England, I served 12 years in the RAF, joined what was then Air2000 - now First Choice Airlines and am now plying my trade as an expat in SE Asia. I have tried hard to be proud to be British.
But:
Wild horses wouldn't drag me back to UK. Each time I visit my family I find the UK dirtier, more overcrowded, more expensive and less friendly than the previous visit. The taxes (direct and indirect) are high to subsidise, amongst other things, a welfare state system that is creaking at the seams but still seems to attract millions of economic refugees who put further strain on a failing system, and common decency seems to have been sacrificed on the altar of making a dollar. Petrol is over 4GBP a gallon. If you smoke, cigarettes are over GBP4 for 20 and the tax on alcohol is unbelievable. A bar meal for 2, a few drinks and a short cab ride home will set you back over GBP50. Think about it!
Work may be hard to come by in Canada but I would think twice before coming to UK.
But:
Wild horses wouldn't drag me back to UK. Each time I visit my family I find the UK dirtier, more overcrowded, more expensive and less friendly than the previous visit. The taxes (direct and indirect) are high to subsidise, amongst other things, a welfare state system that is creaking at the seams but still seems to attract millions of economic refugees who put further strain on a failing system, and common decency seems to have been sacrificed on the altar of making a dollar. Petrol is over 4GBP a gallon. If you smoke, cigarettes are over GBP4 for 20 and the tax on alcohol is unbelievable. A bar meal for 2, a few drinks and a short cab ride home will set you back over GBP50. Think about it!
Work may be hard to come by in Canada but I would think twice before coming to UK.
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BananasBananas,
Everything you said can be applied to Canada as well. It is not just Britain that is affected by slow decline. Pretty much everything "WizofOz" said applies to Canada too except replace Sydney Harbour with "anywhere in Vancouver". Cigarettes cost a fortune (but this doesn't matter when you are aircrew if you know what I mean), cities are getting dirtier, roads are in worse condition every year and funding gets cut all over the place - god help you if you need an ambulance in Ontario. Pension funds are underfunded and there is no money in the economy to sort it out. Welfare state is in a mess - just count how many people are sleeping on the streets next time you are in Toronto (there used to be none when I was a kid).
Restaurants appear cheaper in Canada but this is false economy because you have to add 15% tax to all the menu prices and then of course add another 15% tip because tipping is compulsory. Not something you need to worry about in Britain.
The simple fact is, what you have described is the state of the entire western world. Everything is sacrificed at the altar of the mighty dollar. The sooner people begin to wake up and realise that the grass ISN'T greener on the other side the better. Except where it comes to aviation.
The decision should come down to where are the jobs. The answer is they are in Britain. The wages are very competitive and the competition is strong and healthy. Employment is way more secure than other countries and time off is much more. The vast majority of jobs are on large commercial jet aircraft. If bush flying is your thing then don't come here. If airline flying is your thing then get off your backside and get here yesterday.
Zippy
Everything you said can be applied to Canada as well. It is not just Britain that is affected by slow decline. Pretty much everything "WizofOz" said applies to Canada too except replace Sydney Harbour with "anywhere in Vancouver". Cigarettes cost a fortune (but this doesn't matter when you are aircrew if you know what I mean), cities are getting dirtier, roads are in worse condition every year and funding gets cut all over the place - god help you if you need an ambulance in Ontario. Pension funds are underfunded and there is no money in the economy to sort it out. Welfare state is in a mess - just count how many people are sleeping on the streets next time you are in Toronto (there used to be none when I was a kid).
Restaurants appear cheaper in Canada but this is false economy because you have to add 15% tax to all the menu prices and then of course add another 15% tip because tipping is compulsory. Not something you need to worry about in Britain.
The simple fact is, what you have described is the state of the entire western world. Everything is sacrificed at the altar of the mighty dollar. The sooner people begin to wake up and realise that the grass ISN'T greener on the other side the better. Except where it comes to aviation.
The decision should come down to where are the jobs. The answer is they are in Britain. The wages are very competitive and the competition is strong and healthy. Employment is way more secure than other countries and time off is much more. The vast majority of jobs are on large commercial jet aircraft. If bush flying is your thing then don't come here. If airline flying is your thing then get off your backside and get here yesterday.
Zippy
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I think every country has there good points and bad, we all have crime but in a country with 70m people its going to be higher than say in Canada but I for one live in London and have never been attacked in the street, never seen a gun, dont know of anybody personally who has been the victim of crime, my house has never been burgled but when I spent a good amount of time in BNE last year I had my bike nicked from outside my house about a week after being there!
Things are relative to, yes house prices are high but wages are not so bad, we get decent holidays unlike our N American counterparts, flights are cheap abroad and theres plenty of competition to keep the prices low and everything is 'just around the corner', I think the tax system is pretty much equal to any other country and its not astrnomically high you just get used to it.
Theres many a country worse than England.
Things are relative to, yes house prices are high but wages are not so bad, we get decent holidays unlike our N American counterparts, flights are cheap abroad and theres plenty of competition to keep the prices low and everything is 'just around the corner', I think the tax system is pretty much equal to any other country and its not astrnomically high you just get used to it.
Theres many a country worse than England.
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If you do come please bring with you some Tim Hortons coffee
On behalf of RedFred as I'm sure he meant to say it but is just a bit ignorant you'll be welcome in the rest of the British Isles which includes Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland.......
On behalf of RedFred as I'm sure he meant to say it but is just a bit ignorant you'll be welcome in the rest of the British Isles which includes Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland.......
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Thegypsy said:
Have you even been...?
As others have said housing is now on a par with the UK in the growth areas of Australia. Take the southern suburbs of Brisbane, which is infact a long way from the centre of town (30kms) a very average new build property will set you back $400K which is around £170K, much the same as say the outer reaches of Birmingham or Manchester or Newcastle, and as for Glasgow, that will get you a mansion...
Petrol... ok it is cheaper in Oz, but it is a fairly poor grade of petrol so less miles to the gallon and certainly harder on the upkeep/servicing costs, and they all drive gas guzzlers so it sort of evens out.
Food, there is no difference, indeed some foodstuffs such as milk & bread are actually more expensive in Australia.
As for crime, there was a recent study which said you are more likely to suffer serious assault in Australia than anyother developed country...! Like a previous poster, I had never been burgled until I lived in Australia...
Don't get me wrong, I love the country (Australia), but you have to be realistic.
In OZ it goes much further as Housing,Petrol ,Food etc etc is far cheaper than in UK.
As others have said housing is now on a par with the UK in the growth areas of Australia. Take the southern suburbs of Brisbane, which is infact a long way from the centre of town (30kms) a very average new build property will set you back $400K which is around £170K, much the same as say the outer reaches of Birmingham or Manchester or Newcastle, and as for Glasgow, that will get you a mansion...
Petrol... ok it is cheaper in Oz, but it is a fairly poor grade of petrol so less miles to the gallon and certainly harder on the upkeep/servicing costs, and they all drive gas guzzlers so it sort of evens out.
Food, there is no difference, indeed some foodstuffs such as milk & bread are actually more expensive in Australia.
As for crime, there was a recent study which said you are more likely to suffer serious assault in Australia than anyother developed country...! Like a previous poster, I had never been burgled until I lived in Australia...
Don't get me wrong, I love the country (Australia), but you have to be realistic.
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About all these jobs in England...
Are many jobs available at the regional level, or only at the top (BA, Virgin, etc)?
Must one need some level of JAA licensure to inquire, or are pilots with adequate experience abroad but no JAA tickets given consideration?
I guess I'm asking if a relatively low time FAA pilot should send out apps to the UK or wait until he has a respectable amount of time at a US regional and at least a frozen JAA ATPL....
Chris
Are many jobs available at the regional level, or only at the top (BA, Virgin, etc)?
Must one need some level of JAA licensure to inquire, or are pilots with adequate experience abroad but no JAA tickets given consideration?
I guess I'm asking if a relatively low time FAA pilot should send out apps to the UK or wait until he has a respectable amount of time at a US regional and at least a frozen JAA ATPL....
Chris
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Pilotcpb,
First and foremost you need the right to reside in the EU. If you don't have that the rest is a waste of time.
If you have the right to reside in the EU then you'll need to convert your FAA licence across to a JAR licence which will cost a lot of money if you're a low timer without a lot of experience. Say £10,000??
There aren't a lot of jobs in the UK for low timers but if you have experience there are openings. My company, easyjet, says they have about 5,000 applications on file at the moment from European pilots. At the moment they are getting people in the door by getting to pay them £25,000 ($40000?) for a type rating and a reduced salary
so the UK isn't a honeypot.
At the moment anyone without experience is going to find it extremely tough to get a look in. Anybody with experience on a turbo prop should be able to secure another turboprop position but may struggle to get on a jet at the moment. Anybody with reasonable experience on a jet should find a position on a jet with someone, but perhaps at some cost as paying for your type rating seems to be becoming the fashion.
Hope that helps.
First and foremost you need the right to reside in the EU. If you don't have that the rest is a waste of time.
If you have the right to reside in the EU then you'll need to convert your FAA licence across to a JAR licence which will cost a lot of money if you're a low timer without a lot of experience. Say £10,000??
There aren't a lot of jobs in the UK for low timers but if you have experience there are openings. My company, easyjet, says they have about 5,000 applications on file at the moment from European pilots. At the moment they are getting people in the door by getting to pay them £25,000 ($40000?) for a type rating and a reduced salary
so the UK isn't a honeypot.At the moment anyone without experience is going to find it extremely tough to get a look in. Anybody with experience on a turbo prop should be able to secure another turboprop position but may struggle to get on a jet at the moment. Anybody with reasonable experience on a jet should find a position on a jet with someone, but perhaps at some cost as paying for your type rating seems to be becoming the fashion.
Hope that helps.
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Scottie,
Thanks for the info... thats pretty much what I figured the situation to be, but the tone of the thread was fairly upbeat... guess I underestimated th experience of everyone else!
Chris
Thanks for the info... thats pretty much what I figured the situation to be, but the tone of the thread was fairly upbeat... guess I underestimated th experience of everyone else!
Chris
